Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony To Be Held Thursday - 05/13/26

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating every May 15th as Peace Officer Memorial Day and the week in which it falls, National Police Week. 

Across the United States, ceremonies are held to remember those serving in law enforcement who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will host a local Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 9:00 am on the front lawn of the Courthouse. This ceremony, which is open to members of the community, will pay tribute to the six Douglas County law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty:

•    Officer Donald DeSues - Roseburg Police Department - EOW August 7, 1959
•    Special Deputy Ronald H. Terwilliger - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
•    Corporal Virgle D. Knight Jr. - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
•    Sergeant Gerald G. Chirrick - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW July 23, 1985
•    Deputy Morris L. Taylor - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW September 14, 2002
•    Deputy S. Allen Burdic - Douglas County Sheriff's Office - EOW March 11, 2021

The tribute will include a proclamation reading by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, a police honor guard, wreath laying ceremony, bagpipes, a 21-gun salute and a county-wide radio broadcast.

Sheriff's Office Warns About Scam Callers - 04/30/26

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. - Scammers are posing as officials from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) in an effort to scam community members out of money. Deputies have once again begun receiving reports from people contacted by phone by individuals posing as DCSO employees.
 

The scammer will tell the intended victim they have missed some type of court appearance, failed to appear for jury duty, they owe fines or have a warrant for their arrest and eventually demands payment. The victim is often directed to immediately make payment or they face consequences including arrest. These are tactics that are never utilized by legitimate law enforcement agencies. 
 

It is critically important for our community to be aware of these tactics and to share them with their friends and family members, especially those who may be vulnerable to falling victim to the scams, such as the elderly members of the community. However, we also wish to remind the community not to focus too much on specific scam tactics; scammers often change their methods over time:

• Scammers can easily obtain new phone numbers and will change them often.
• Scammers may use “spoof” programs to make the Caller ID show an agency’s actual phone number.  
• Scammers may use the names of actual DCSO employees to make the call seem legitimate.  
• Scammers may obtain personal information about a victim online including their name, address, phone number, and the names of others in the home. 
• Scammers may initially contact victims by mail, email, or through social media.

Due to the technology used in the scam – and the fact that scammers can be located anywhere in the world – it is virtually impossible to track the scammers or to get money back.

“If anyone has any question about a possible scam call, they should call the law enforcement dispatch center at (541) 440-4471 and ask to speak to a deputy,” said Undersheriff Brad O'Dell.  “The most important thing is to not send any money or agree to meet someone to make payment.”